Support device

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to the field of firearms and in particular but not exclusively to supporting firearms, such as rifles. A support device for supporting a firearm above a surface, the support comprising a support body for connection to the firearm and including, or for connection to, at least one support leg, the support body comprising a curved element which engages a correspondingly-shaped fixture mounted on, or integral with the firearm, the inter-engagement of the curved element and fixture permitting panning of the connected firearm, and a detent means which retains the curved element and the correspondingly-shaped fixture in engagement.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to and the benefit of GreatBritain Patent Application No. GB2020328.7, filed Dec. 22, 2020; theentire contents of which as are hereby incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND Related Field

This invention relates to the field of firearms and in particular, butnot exclusively, to supporting firearms such as rifles.

Related Art

A variety of supports, such as bipods and tripods are known for stablysupporting firearms. Early bipods were mounted permanently orsemi-permanently on the firearm. In the context of the invention,semi-permanent mounting refers to arrangements where a bipod is fixed toa firearm such that a user tends to leave the bipod so mounted, suchthat it is ready for use. An example of a bipod which is typicallysemi-permanently mounted on a firearm are the bipods of the Harris bipodtype (U.S. Pat. No. 3,327,422) which take some time to mount or demountfrom a firearm. Such permanent or semi-permanent mounting of bipods isdisadvantageous for several reasons. First, the support is not requiredin all situations, for example, in driven shooting or in high seatshooting, and therefore the mounted bipod adds unnecessary weight forsuch situations. Second, in the case of high value firearms, which oftenfeature finely crafted, highly figured wooden stocks, and engravedactions and metal parts, and where aesthetic considerations areimportant to a user, the presence of a permanently mounted bipod may beunattractive to a user.

With the introduction in 2015 of the applicant's Javelin magneticattachment system (GB2504680), it has been possible for a user to carrya support such as bipod, or a tripod, separately to a firearm and toquickly mount the bipod or tripod to the firearm so that the firearm canbe stably supported by the bipod or tripod. In this way, a support isonly carried when it is likely to required, for example when stalking onopen ground, but need not be carried when it is not likely to berequired—such as in a high seat hunting situation.

BRIEF SUMMARY

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a supportdevice according to claim 1.

The support device of the invention is advantageous in that it may bequickly attached to or detached from a firearm, and when detached fromthe firearm may be carried as required by a user. Optional and preferredfeatures of this aspect of the invention are set out in claims 2 to 19.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided acombination of a support device according to a first aspect of theinvention including a fixture, and a firearm. Preferably, the supportdevice and the firearm are connected in the combination.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Support devices and combinations of such support devices and firearms inaccordance with the invention will now be described, by way of exampleonly, with reference to the accompanying drawings, FIGS. 1 to 8, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is an elevation of the rear of a support device in accordancewith the invention in one condition;

FIG. 2 is an elevation of the front of the support device of FIG. 1 inanother condition;

FIG. 3 is a scrap side view of a firearm (shown in longitudinalcross-section) engaged with the support device of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an elevation of the rear of another support device inaccordance with the invention in one condition;

FIG. 5 is a cross-section of a fixture for use with a support device inaccordance with the invention;

FIG. 6 is a plan view from below of the fixture of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a combination of a support device and a firearmin accordance with the invention; and

FIG. 8 is a side view of another combination of a support device and afirearm in accordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS

A Support Device A support device 10 in accordance with the invention isshown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3. The support device 10 comprises a body 11and support legs 12, 14. The legs 12, 14 are pivotally connected to thebody 11 by pins 15 and 16 respectively so that the legs 12, 14 can bepivoted between a folded condition as shown in FIG. 1, suitable forcarrying, and a deployed, or unfolded, condition as shown in FIG. 2 inwhich the support device can be used to stably support a firearm.

The support device body 11 includes an upstanding cylindrical portion,or spigot, 17.

The support device body 11 includes spring loaded ball detents 18, 19,20, which are normally biased into an extended condition as shown in theillustration. By a retraction mechanism (not shown) the balls can bewithdrawn fully into the body i.e., into a retracted condition, byoperation of button 21. In this embodiment, the button 21 is arranged onthe rear face of the support body 11. In this position, the button 21 isconveniently facing a user and is less likely to be accidentallydepressed e.g., with contact with vegetation or a rock in a practicalhunting situation. However, the button 21 or other means for a user tooperate to release the detent means, may be located on the front or sideof the support device body 11. In the embodiment shown, the spigot 17 istopped by a neodymium magnet 22 fixed to the spigot.

In use, the support 10 can be carried by a user until it is needed, andquickly mounted on a firearm or, alternatively, it can be left attachedto the firearm i.e., mounted on the firearm. The support device 10 isshown mounted on a firearm 30 in FIG. 3. In FIG. 3, only the forestock32 and barrel 34 of the firearm 30 are shown (both in cross section). Afixture 36 is fixed into the forestock 32, as shown here, with glue. Inother embodiments, the fixture 36 can be integral with the forestock(e.g., formed of the same material). The fixture 36 is typically formedfrom a non-ferrous material such as aluminium, or brass. The fixture 36defines a cylindrical cavity 37 which corresponds with the cylindricalshape of the spigot 17, and an annular track or groove 38 which extendsaround the wall of the cavity 37 parallel with the planar surfaces ofthe fixture. A ferrous disc 39 is embedded in the cylindrical cavity 37.

A user can insert the spigot 17 into the cylindrical cavity 37, aided bythe attraction between the magnet 22 and the ferrous disc 39. As thespigot is inserted, the spring-loaded ball detents 18-20 are eachdeflected by the wall of the cavity 37 against the spring bias (i.e.,they are kept in a retracted condition) until they engage with theannular track, or groove, 38. The depth of the annular track into thewall of the cylindrical cavity 37 then allows the balls 18-20 to extendinto their extended condition. In their extended condition, the ballsinhibit removal of the spigot 17 from the cavity 37, i.e. the supportdevice 10 is kept connected to the firearm. This inhibition is enhancedby the magnetic attraction between the magnet 22 and the ferrous disc39. The spigot 17 can be removed from the cavity 37 in order todisconnect the support device 10 from the firearm 30, by depressing thebutton 21 which causes or allows the ball detents 18-20 to move intotheir retracted condition. Alternatively, the user may be able to pullhard on the bipod legs 12-14 to overcome the spring-loaded ball detents18-20.

Another Support Device

Another support device 40 in accordance with the invention is shown inFIG. 4. The support device 40 is generally constructed and arranged asdescribed above in relation to support device 10, and comprises asupport body 41, with two support legs 42, 44 which are pivotallyconnected by pins 45, 46 to the body 41. The support body 41 is toppedby a cylindrical spigot 47, but there is no magnet topping the spigot 47in this embodiment. It has been found by the Applicant that asufficiently effective connection can be made for many practicalpurposes between the support device and fixture without cooperatingmagnetic means on the spigot and fixture. A rear facing button 50 isprovided. Instead of operating ball spring detents as in the FIG. 1-3embodiment, in this FIG. 4 embodiment, the button 50 can be depressed bya user to retract a rear facing spring-loaded lug 51 into the spigot 47,by a mechanism not shown.

In use, the support device 40 can be connected to a firearm, generallyas described above in relation to the FIG. 1-3 embodiment, with the lug51 being retracted by a user within the perimeter of the cylindricalspigot 47 to engage with a fixture of the type described above (andreferred to at 36 having a circular cavity, and an annular track. Thelug 51 is able to extend into the annular track, when the spigot 47 isfully inserted into the fixture, and is biased into that extendedcondition, to retain the spigot 47 within the cavity but still permitsrotation of the spigot 47 within the cavity and thus allowing panning ofthe connected and supported firearm. In contrast with the FIG. 1-3embodiment, a user cannot pull on the bipod legs 42, 44 and pull thesupport device 40 off the firearm due to the engagement of the lug 47with the annular track.

Another Fixture

Another fixture 50, for use with a support device in accordance with theinvention is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The fixture 50 comprises a base 52and an upstanding cylindrical portion 54 which in turn defines agenerally cylindrical cavity, 56. The wall of the cylindrical cavity 56defines an annular track 58, which is shaped to receive acorrespondingly-dimensioned detent of a support, such as the balldetents 18-20 of the FIG. 1-3 embodiment or the spring-loaded lug 51 ofthe FIG. 4 embodiment.

The fixture 50 may be connected to the lower surface of a firearm'sforestock by a fastening passed through an aperture 60 defined by base52. The fastening may be a screw, or a swivel stud of the type commonlyused to fix straps to firearms.

A combination of a Support Device and a Firearm

A first combination 100 of a support device 102 in accordance with theinvention and a firearm 104 is shown in FIGS. 7. As shown in FIG. 7, thesupport device 102 is of the type described above in relation to FIG.1-3, or 4, where the curved element and the fixture are partly or whollycylindrical device (i.e., in the form of cylindrical dipper spigot 19 or47) so that the panning of the firearm is substantially planar andpermits the firearm to pan in a substantially planar manner through anarc of angle A. The arc A may be restricted by the design of the support102, so that the firearm is not moved into positions in which it is notstably supported by support 102. For example, the track of thecylindrical cavity of the fixture may not be fully annular. In theembodiment shown, the arc A is 160 degrees of rotation. Other arcs offire are possible with different designs of track e.g., by making thetrack non-continuous.

A second combination 200 is shown in FIG. 8 and comprises a supportdevice 202 and a connected firearm 204. In this embodiment, and incontrast to the embodiments of FIG. 1-3, and FIG. 4 where the spigot andcavities are cylindrical with flat opposing surfaces, correspondingparts of the curved element of the support body and the fixture arepartly spherical, such that the panning of the firearm may be non-planari.e., so that the firearm can be aimed up or down. For example, as shownin FIG. 8, the firearm can be pointed up or down moving through arc B,above or below a horizontal plane P.

It will be appreciated by the skilled addressee that other embodimentsmay be made within the spirit and scope of the invention, and numerousmodifications may be made to those embodiments again without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention

1. A support device for supporting a firearm above a surface, thesupport device comprising a support body for connection to the firearmand including, or for connection to, at least one support leg, thesupport body comprising a curved element which engages acorrespondingly-shaped fixture mounted on, or integral with, thefirearm, the inter-engagement of the curved element and fixturepermitting panning of a connected firearm, the support device furthercomprising a detent means which can retain the curved element and thecorrespondingly-shaped fixture in engagement, in which the detent isoperable by a user, to allow disengagement between the curved elementand the fixture.
 2. A support device for a firearm according to claim 1,wherein the detent means can be released by a user by operation of auser-operated control.
 3. A support device for a firearm according toclaim 1, wherein the detent means includes at least one ball.
 4. Asupport device for a firearm according to claim 1, wherein the detentmeans includes a lug that can be retracted by a user by operation of auser-facing control.
 5. A support device for a firearm according toclaim 1, wherein the detent means includes a track.
 6. A support devicefor a firearm according to claim 1, wherein the curved element is atleast partly cylindrical.
 7. A support device for a firearm according toclaim 6, wherein the curved element is cylindrical.
 8. A support devicefor a firearm according to claim 6, wherein the fixture has a partlycylindrical surface corresponding to the cylindrical shape of the curvedelement.
 9. A support device for a firearm according to claim 1, whereinthe curved element is at least partly spherical.
 10. A support devicefor a firearm according to claim 9, wherein the fixture has an at leastpartly spherical surface, to permit up or down movement of a connectedfirearm.
 11. A support device for a firearm according to claim 1,wherein at least one of the support body and fixture include a magnetwhich attracts the other of the support body and fixture.
 12. A supportdevice for a firearm according to claim 11, wherein attraction betweenthe magnet and the other of the support body and fixture encouragesinter-engagement between the support device and the fixture.
 13. Asupport device for a firearm according to claim 12, wherein attractionbetween the magnet and the other of the support body and fixturemaintains inter-engagement between the support and the fixture.
 14. Asupport device for a firearm according to claim 1, wherein a user canovercome the detent means to separate the support device from aconnected firearm.
 15. A support device for a firearm according to claim1, wherein the support device is configured to permit panning of asupported firearm, by 30 degrees of rotation or more.
 16. A supportdevice for a firearm according to claim 1, wherein the support device isconfigured to permit panning of a supported firearm by 60 degrees ofrotation.
 17. A support device for a firearm according to claim 1,wherein the support device is configured to permit panning of thesupported firearm by 120 degrees or more.
 18. A support device for afirearm according to claim 1, further comprising at least one supportleg.
 19. A support device for a firearm according to claim 1, furthercomprising two or three support legs.
 20. A support device for a firearmaccording to claim 2, wherein the user operated control is located on auser facing surface of the support body, or a side of the support body.21. A combination comprising: a support device according to claim 1, afixture, and a firearm.
 22. A combination according to claim 21, whereinthe fixture is mounted on or integral with the firearm.